The General Assembly chooses Peatross' successor, but legislators usually bow to the choice of local delegates– in this case, Rob Bell and David Toscano. "Their decision is entitled to lots of weight," says Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association president David Pettit.

Bell and Toscano are both attorneys, and their fellow members of the local Bar want to help them decide. "The Bar, of course, does not choose the candidate," says Pettit. "We have a process for evaluating and possibly endorsing a candidate if the Bar can agree."

The seven candidates appeared before a public forum December 14 and had one minute to respond to each of seven questions. Judicial endorsement committee chair Don Morin rapped his knuckles on the desk when their time was up, taking the opportunity to silence a future judge.

The questions ranged from "Why do you want to be a circuit court judge?" to "What role should a judge play when a plea agreement is presented by the prosecution and defense?" That question is an obvious reference to complaints by Camblos and Public Defender Jim Hingeley regarding Peatross's handling of a 2004 plea that netted the judge an appearance before a state judicial review committee.

"Why aren't they both here?" asked Albemarle resident Tom VonHemert about Bell's absence. Bell did not return a phone call by press time.

"I found the questions too easy," VonHemert added.

Toscano hasn't made up his mind. "This is the beginning of a long process," he says. The Bar hopes to have a recommendation for the delegates by January 10– if the membership can agree on an endorsement of the most highly qualified candidate or candidates. The public is encouraged to weigh in by December 29 to Morin (email dmorin@morinandbarkley.com).

One thing the current crop of candidates agree upon: They all want to give back to the community by sitting on the bench.

MEET 'EM

Patricia M. Brady

Age: 56

Career path: Joined the Peace Corps and worked as a social worker before going law school in her late 30s.

Focus: Domestic relations

Plea agreements: The judge has an obligation to study them before accepting, rejecting or deferring.

Mediation: Not always best for victims of domestic abuse

Outside the law: Weightlifter, cyclist and can stand on her head for more than a minute.

Jim Camblos

Age: 60

Career path: 15 years as a defense attorney, 15 as the elected commonwealth's attorney.

Judge creds: "I know a lot about how people in the county feel about criminal law."

Plea agreements: The judge should play no role in the language of the plea agreement itself.

Pet peeve about other lawyers: Unpreparedness

Connection to other candidates: Zug's boss and Higgins' former boss.

Fashion statement: Bowtie

Bob Downer

Age: 58

Career path: 25 years in general practice

Judge creds: 5-1/2 years as a sitting judge

Mediation: Often preferable, but notes there's "a catharsis that happens at trial."

Pet peeve about other lawyers: When they act demeaning toward witnesses.

Outside the law: Runs, works in soup kitchen where he meets people who sometimes turn up in his court.

Cheryl Higgins

Age: 45

Career path: Prosecutor for 10 years before going into private practice.

Mediation: Just because it's an option doesn't mean it's preferable.

Pet peeve about other lawyers: When they lie, as happened in one case that she, as a judge, would have retried.